NFL Week 7 Picks: Full Predictions and Breakdown of Best Divisional Matchups

Week 7 of the NFL season kicks off Thursday evening with an AFC East battle between the division's perpetual champion New England Patriots and the lowly New York Jets.

That mismatch in Foxboro, based on the general trend of blowouts in Thursday games, figures to be rather forgettable, with the dysfunctional Jets coming off a short week and the Pats cruising at the moment.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com has a relevant stat for that one, too:

But there are some other compelling divisional clashes on the schedule for Sunday, so there is plenty to look forward to as rivals jockey for position in their respective clusters.

Here is a look at complete Week 7 picks, along with a breakdown of the best matchups between familial foes.

Away Team	Home Team	Pick
New York Jets	New England Patriots	Patriots
Atlanta Falcons	Baltimore Ravens	Ravens
Tennessee Titans	Washington	Washington
Seattle Seahawks	St. Louis Rams	Seahawks
Cleveland Browns	Jacksonville Jaguars	Browns
Cincinnati Bengals	Indianapolis Colts	Colts
Minnesota Vikings	Buffalo Bills	Bills
Miami Dolphins	Chicago Bears	Bears
New Orleans Saints	Detroit Lions	Lions
Carolina Panthers	Green Bay Packers	Packers
Kansas City Chiefs	San Diego Chargers	Chiefs
Arizona Cardinals	Oakland Raiders	Raiders
New York Giants	Dallas Cowboys	Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers	Denver Broncos	Broncos
Houston Texans	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers

Predictions for Top Week 7 Division Games

Seattle Seahawks (3-2) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-4)

Nick Wass/Associated Press

A common term to describe a tenacious ball-carrier eager to attack an opposing defense is "running angry."

In the curious case of Marshawn Lynch, he who laughs while he truck-sticks hapless defenders and eats Skittles for kicks, even the man known as Beast Mode may have a different streak to him this week.

Lynch carried just 10 times in Seattle's home loss to Dallas in Week 6. The Seahawks have built their success around a strong ground game, and Lynch has been the workhorse for it. A return to that effective paradigm should occur in this NFC West battle in St. Louis.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is intent on giving Lynch additional touches, via the NFL on Twitter:

By pounding the rock against the NFL's 26th-ranked rush defense, Seattle can command time of possession and force unheralded Rams quarterback Austin Davis to air it out more than he'd like. That seems like a recipe for victory, as the reigning Super Bowl winners seek to bounce back.

You can also bet Seahawks superstar Richard Sherman will be eager to improve his Pro Football Focus standing against an inexperienced Rams receiving corps, as relayed by NFL.com's Marc Sessler:

Before dismissing St. Louis entirely, do keep in mind that Davis has played rather well, throwing for over 300 yards and six total scores in losses to the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles by a combined nine points. Those two clubs are 5-1, tied atop the NFC East, and the Rams led San Francisco at halftime on Monday.

Starting just 3-2, albeit losing to quality teams in San Diego and Dallas, the sense of urgency in Seattle will be real. That will lead to a season-best performance from Lynch, a return to form for the "Legion of Boom" secondary and a statement win on the road for the Seahawks after a rare failure to protect their home field.

Prediction: Seahawks 30, Rams 10

Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (5-1)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

While the Denver Broncos have to face off with the San Francisco 49ers in prime time this Sunday night, it's on the Chargers to stay a nose in front in the AFC West. That will be easier said than done in a matchup with Kansas City.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is known for getting his teams ready following a bye week, per TWC SportsChannel KC's Nick Jacobs:

Defensive back Ron Parker has filled in nicely for K.C. star safety Eric Berry, who may make a return in Week 7, according to Reid.

"He went through Monday's practice; he felt good," said Reid, per KCChiefs.com's Pete Sweeney. "He's going to go through today's (practice), and we'll see how he does. He came back and he felt good, so I'm pretty good with him for today, and we'll see how it goes from there."

Any help in the secondary would be useful against the likes of Chargers star QB Philip Rivers, who leads the league with a 115.2 passer rating and has tossed 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions. NFL Stats highlights Rivers' recent tear:

San Diego's own defensive backfield has question marks, though, after allowing Oakland rookie Derek Carr to throw four TDs in Week 6. That was a letdown game, and with how hot Rivers has been and how well-prepared Reid has traditionally been with an extra week to evaluate, this could be a troublesome matchup for the Chargers.

Rivers' counterpart in Alex Smith does a great job protecting the football, and he has the benefit of a strong backfield tandem featuring Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis to complement him.

In what amounts to a must-win game for the Chiefs, Charles and Davis will help K.C. dictate the flow of the game and pull off a monumental upset on the road.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 27

New York Giants (3-3) vs. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The Giants remain an enigma, losing their first two games in woeful fashion, rattling off three straight wins thereafter before getting shut out 27-0 against Philadelphia last week.

It's hard to bet on New York with any conviction, yet it's just as hard to count the G-Men out. Dallas is on a five-game winning streak and just had a landmark victory at Seattle. The spotlight is brighter than it has been in a long time on America's Team.

While the Cowboys look like an offensive juggernaut with Tony Romo under center and lead rusher DeMarco Murray continuing a historic start to the year, New York is plagued by inconsistency on that side of the ball. Randall Liu, the NFL's Director of NFC Football Communications, notes Murray's rushing lead:

Bleacher Report NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon notes the importance turnovers should play in this one:

Eli Manning lost his top receiver in Victor Cruz to a torn patellar tendon in Week 6, and the Giants didn't adjust in the game well enough to score a single point. That puts the onus on first-round rookie Odell Beckham Jr. to step up.

That may be too tall of an order, especially without running back Rashad Jennings to set up play-action passes and help Beckham's deep-threat potential manifest itself.

Dallas' defense is much-improved under the direction of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, from 30th in Football Outsiders' DVOA in 2013 to 16th now. NBC5's Pat Doney highlights how the Cowboys' top-ranked rushing attack has helped keep Dallas defenders fresh:

Marinelli should design an adequate game plan to pressure Manning often and keep the Cowboys rolling at home.

Setting the tone for the first of a three-game homestand is critical for Dallas' momentum moving forward.

If the favorites can pull this one out, it will tell a lot about the mental makeup of the team. Undone by mediocre seasons recently, this is a golden opportunity for the Cowboys to prove themselves as truly belonging among the NFL's elite.

Not to mention, they have an obligation to maintain pace with the Eagles at the top of the division.

All of those factors figure to allow Dallas to stay on its best run in recent history and to roll over the archrival Giants with relative ease.

Prediction: Cowboys 34, Giants 23